Piano Lesson Cast and Characters

The piano lesson has finally been released on Netflix, and here’s a full breakdown of the film’s cast and characters. Director Malcolm Washington is adapting the critically acclaimed 1987 play into a feature film, working alongside some of today’s most talented actors. There are tons of talented individuals in The piano lessonand here is who they are.

The piano lesson follows the Charles family, a multigenerational group of characters who must decide what they want to do with the titular piano. The piano is a family heirloom which was made by the enslaved ancestors of the Charles family, and has been beautifully decorated and passed down. Some want to sell the piano and others want to preserve it, generating great conflict within the Charles family.

John David Washington as Boy Willie Charles

Born July 28, 1984

Actor: John David Washington is an actor who was born on July 28, 1984, in Los Angeles, California and got his big break as part of the main cast of the 2015 HBO series Players. Washington had previously appeared alongside his father Denzel Washington in films such as Malcolm X and Devil in a blue dressalthough his HBO debut launched his solo film career, with him starring in acclaimed films such as Black Klansman, Principle, The Creatorand much more.

Notable Movies/TV Shows

Character: In The piano lessonBoy Willie Charles is Doaker’s nephew and Bernice’s brother, and he is a sharecropper who is involved in the rivalry over what to do with the titular piano. As seen in The piano lessonIn the Boy Willie trailer, he invests in the history and family legacy that the piano carries, wanting to sell it and use the money to buy back the land where his ancestors worked.

Samuel L. Jackson as Doaker Charles

Born December 21, 1948

Actor: Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most beloved actors of all time, born on December 21, 1948, in Washington DC. Although Samuel L. Jackson has been acting since the 1970s, he has had previous appearances in films such as Coming to America and Good companionshe got his big break as the star of pulp Fiction. Jackson has been an A-list actor ever since, with him appearing in other Quentin Tarantino films as well as major franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Notable Movies/TV Shows

Character: In The piano lessonDoaker Charles is the owner of Charles’ house, and he is the uncle of Boy Willie and Bernice. Doaker’s age allows him to tell the story and legacy of the piano to the rest of his family, without ever choosing a side on whether or not the piano should be sold.

Danielle Deadwyler as Bernice Charles

Born May 3, 1982

Actor: Danielle Deadwyler is an actress who was born on May 3, 1982, in Atlanta, Georgia, with her getting her big break in theater before making her screen debut in 2012 A cross to bear. Deadwyler then gained popularity on the soap opera Those who have and those who have notwith her advancing her film career in acclaimed films such as The more they fall and Until.

Notable Movies/TV Shows

Character: On the other side of the battle over what to do with the piano is Bernice Charles, Boy Willie’s brother and Doaker’s niece. Unlike Boy Willie, Bernice wants to keep the piano as a family heirloom, with her conflict with Boy Willie becoming even more heated due to her beliefs about his role in an important family death.

Ray Fisher as Lymon

Born September 8, 1987

Actor: Ray Fisher is an actor who was born on September 8, 1987, in Baltimore, Maryland, with him getting his big break for his role as Cyborg in the DCEU. Fisher has been a frequent collaborator with Zack Snyder, appearing in the DCEU as well as the Rebel Moon franchise, although he has also appeared in TV shows such as True Detective while maintaining an impressive stage career.

Notable Movies/TV Shows

Character: In The piano lessonLymon is an outsider to the Charles family, being friends with Boy Willie and knowing the rest of the family through him. Lymon tries to understand everyone’s side in the battle for the piano, acting as an audience surrogate.

Piano Lesson Cast and Supporting Characters

Michael Potts as winning boy Charles: Wining Boy is the comic relief in The piano lessonhe is the older brother of Doaker Charles. Michael Potts’ previous credits include Ma Rainey Black Bottom and Rustin.

Skylar Aleece Smith as Maretha Charles: Maretha is Berenice’s 11-year-old daughter, and Berenice taught her piano while keeping her story a secret. Skylar Alcee Smith’s previous credits include The Cuzzin M show and Evil lives here.

Corey Hawkins as Avery Brown: Avery Brown is a Christian preacher who has been trying to woo Bernice since her husband’s death. Corey Hawkins’ previous credits include In the heights and 2023 The color purple.

Jerrika Hinton as Grace: Grace is a character who is not a member of the Charles family, with Boy Willie and Lymon wanting to be with her. Hinton’s previous credits include Servant and Hunters.

Matrell Smith as Crawley: Crawley is Bernice’s late husband. Smith’s previous credits include Cocoa and The equalizer.

Stephan James as Boy Charles: Boy Charles is the father of Bernice and Boy Willie. James’ previous credits include Race and If Beale Street Could Talk.

Jay Peterson as James Sutter: James Sutter is the man who owned the Charles family as slaves. Peterson’s previous credits include The Conjuration: The Devil Made Me Do It and Red.

Erykah Badu as Lucille: Badu’s previous credits include Blues Brothers 2000 and What men want.

Melanie Jeffcoat as Miss Ophelia: Jeffcoat’s previous credits include Emergency and The Wonder Years.

Gail Bean as Dolly: Bean’s previous credits include Paradise Lost and The Belko Experience.

Malik J. Ali as Willie Boy: Ali’s previous credits include Boardwalk Empire and The Colonizer.